Objective: To explore the changes of outcome and morbidity in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants.
Methods: A retrospective study was performed for ELBW infants admitted into Children's Hospital, Fudan University within 24 hours after birth from January 2007 to December 2011. The maternal and neonatal data were collected by reviewing the medical charts and entered into the dataset.
Results: A total of 105 ELBW infants (54 males, 51 females) were enrolled. The average gestational age was (28.4 ± 2.6)weeks and birth weight was (860 ± 121)g. Neonatal respiratory syndrome (NRDS) (n = 89, 84.8%), apnea(n = 58, 55.2%), sepsis (n = 47, 44.8%) and patent ductus arteriosus (n = 46, 43.8%) remained their major complications.Sepsis was the commonest cause of mortality (7/17) excluding social factors. The incidence of extrauterine growth restriction (46/51, 90.2%) was significantly high at discharge. And the use of antenatal steroids was merely 40.8% (42/103) in ELBW infants at a gestation age under 34 weeks.
Conclusions: The number of ELBW infants has increased dramatically. Antenatal steroids, noninvasive respiratory support, prevention of infections and optimal nutrition supports are key factors of improving the survival rate, short and long-term outcomes of ELBW infants.